RIBA announces six finalists for National Grid bid to find best use of gas-tank holder voids

Gasholders – those huge cylindrical structures dotted around the urban landscape – leave voids, or bases, when they are removed that are being put to good use

Mock-up of a housing development in a gasholder base by Max Architects, replete with ducks (RIBA)

The Royal Institute for British Architects has announced its six finalists for the National Grid gasholder base competition – a project that aims to bring new life to decommissioned and dismantled gas storage facilities. The plans could see the regeneration of more than 100 sites across the country.

A multi-storey charging station for driverless cars, a housing project and a crematorium were among those shortlisted. The brief was broad, simply asks architects to be inventive, and to undertake minimum excavation. Gasholders bases – the undergrounds voids left when those huge cylindrical structures that dot urban landscapes are removed – provide ample opportunity to developers. The land they’re on is cheap to buy, they are secure sites and usually located close to city centres.

Matthew Pearce, operations programme manager at National Grid, said: “We were delighted with the quality and range of ideas, and choosing a shortlist was extremely challenging.”

Russ Davenport, FaulknerBrowns Architects and RIBA Architect Adviser for the competition said: “There has been a great response to the competition brief, with a fantastic variety of ideas at a very high standard. It is a great privilege to be involved in a competition which provides an opportunity for practices to showcase such inventive solutions for these challenging sites.”

The winner of the competition will be announced in December.